Dirty Ex-Sheriff Loses Fight to Remain Out of Prison Pending Appeal

Mike Carona's lawyers came to federal court this morning, claimed that federal prosecutors in the ex-sheriff's case are more of a threat to society and pleaded with a judge to give the top cop turned convicted felon a break: allow him to remain free pending an appeal of his conviction.

But federal prosecutor Ken Julian said it would send the wrong message to society if "a guilty, corrupt public official" wasn't sent to prison in a timely manner.

U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Guilford listened patiently to Julian and to defense lawyers, and late this afternoon rejected Carona's request.

Carona's lawyers indicated during this morning's hearing that if they lost the motion they would file an emergency appeal to the Ninth Circuit.

If higher courts agree with Guilford, Carona must surrender to federal prison officials in late July to begin serving a 66-month sentence for sabotaging a grand jury investigating corruption at the top of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

But, hey, how about this for a real miracle: For once, the ex-sheriff wasn't seen leaving the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse wearing a smug mug and laughing.

R. Scott Moxley’s award-winning investigative journalism has touched nerves for two decades. An angry congressman threatened to break Moxley’s knee caps. A dirty sheriff promised his critical reporting was irrelevant and then landed in prison. Corporate crooks won’t take his calls. Murderous gangsters mad-dogged him in court. The U.S. House of Representatives debated his work. Pusillanimous cops have left hostile messages using fake names. Federal prosecutors credited his stories for the arrest of a doctor who sold fake medicine to dying patients. And a frantic state legislator literally caught sleeping with lobbyists sprinted down state capital hallways to evade his questions in Sacramento.